At a glance
- The cause asked: shelter to Mongol rebels from Alauddin's own army, whom Hammir refused to give up.
- The fort fell after Hammir's commanders Ranmal and Ratipal went over to Alauddin.
- Books on Hammir: Hammir Mahakavya, Nayachandra Suri (Sanskrit) · Hammir Raso, Jodhraj · Hammir Hath, Chandrashekhar.
Facts
| Father | Jaitrasimha (Jaitra Singh) |
|---|---|
| Line | Ranthambore Chauhans, begun by Govindraj, son of Prithviraj III |
| Came to the throne | 1282; 1283 (V.S. 1339, from the Hammir Mahakavya) in other accounts |
| Chief queen | Ranga Devi |
| Died | 1301, fighting at Ranthambore |
The war with Alauddin Khalji
- Earlier, Sultan Jalaluddin Khalji had attacked Ranthambore and failed to take it.
- Mongol rebels led by Muhammad Shah (with Kehbru) fled Alauddin's army after a quarrel over Gujarat booty and took shelter with Hammir.
- 1299: Hammir refused to give them up, and the Khalji army sent against him was beaten back.
- A later army under Ulugh Khan and Nusrat Khan besieged the fort; Nusrat Khan was killed by a missile thrown from the walls.
- 1301: Alauddin came himself and had a raised ramp (pashib) built against the walls; food in the fort ran short.
- Alauddin won over two of Hammir's commanders with the promise of the fort; through their treachery the Turks got in. Alauddin later had both put to death.
- Hammir died fighting; the women of the fort, led by queen Ranga Devi, performed jauhar.
The fort fell in July 1301 and the Ranthambore Chauhan line ended. The fort's buildings are on the forts page.
Hammir's resolve in a couplet
Singh-savan satpurush-vachan, kadali phalai ik baar;Tiriya-tel Hamir-hath, chadhai na duji baar.
Remember: often mixed up
- Two HammirsHammir Dev Chauhan of Ranthambore · Hammir Sisodia of Mewar, on the Mewar page.
- Alauddin's sieges by yearRanthambore 1301 · Chittor 1303 (Mewar page) · Siwana 1308 · Jalore 1311.
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